Lake Forest Caucus Endorses Candidates for 2021 Election

Lake Forest Caucus President Mike Adams commended the Caucus’ robust vetting process and announced endorsements.

“This is our 86th year serving the City and it certainly has been a unique one,” Adams said. “I am really proud of the way our Caucus committee members and the interviewees were able to rise to the challenge. Despite the unprecedented circumstances, we were still able to find and interview excellent candidates to keep this City on track.”

Throughout 2020, the 43-member Caucus Committee met every other week to interview and identify exceptional candidates for the over 100 seats on the City’s boards and commissions. “The candidates endorsed were recommended by the Caucus Committee and voted on by registered Lake Forest voters at the Annual Meeting,” Mike added.

“The Caucus is made up of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents,” explained Kim Pfahl, Caucus Vice President. “With term limits, about one-third of our members are elected new each year. We encourage all community members to learn more at our website, www.lakeforestcaucus.com.”

“The Lake Forest Caucus serves as a recruiting and vetting tool to find the right skill sets to join a board or commission,” remarked Eileen Looby Weber, former Caucus President and current Ward 4 Alderman. “It is important to have a diverse group of individuals representing the varying demographics and cross sections of our community. The Caucus works hard to find the best and right candidates for election or appointment.”

“The Caucus Committee keeps the focus of candidates for office on the truly important issues facing all of Lake Forest,” stated Mayor George Pandaleon. “It has ensured that we benefit from good governance and avoid the pitfalls of a more politicized environment.”

“This year has been anything but ordinary,” noted Ward 2 Chair Derek Johnson. “A global pandemic has temporarily changed the way we work, study, worship, and share life together. As Lake Foresters, we feel fortunate to live in this wonderful community we call home. We have continued to enjoy our open spaces and beaches, we have supported our local businesses, and we applaud our local government for continuing to provide the services we depend on.”

He continued, “I’m excited about the Caucus-endorsed candidates and have been particularly impressed with the school board candidates’ total commitment to safely returning our kids to the classroom full time as soon as possible.”

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The Caucus endorses George Pandaleon for Mayor. The world is a very different place than it was when George was sworn into office in 2019. Lake Foresters are grateful for his thoughtful leadership through this pandemic and for maintaining our City’s excellent financial health. In his next term, George looks forward to using the City’s marketing efforts and new technology to bring greater vibrancy to both of our business districts.

The Caucus endorses James “Jed” Morris for Ward 1 Alderman. In his time as Alderman, Jed has successfully worked with others to restructure the City’s pension funding model, an effort that will benefit the City far into the future. In his next term, Jed looks forward to focusing on the many infrastructure investments to be evaluated, including the south bluff of the beach and our sports playing fields.

The Caucus endorses Melanie Rummel for Ward 2 Alderman. Melanie has been a tireless supporter of this City over her past four years on the City Council, making lasting contributions by drafting the City’s Ethics Ordinance and chairing the new Environmental Sustainability Committee. In her next and final term, Melanie looks forward to working on the Sustainability Plan, which will provide a blueprint to guide our community on environmental issues for years to come.

The Caucus endorses Ara Goshgarian for Ward 3 Alderman. Having just completed his first term on the Council, Ara has already made significant contributions, including leading the initiative to obtain a new rescue boat for our lakefront, purchased through non-taxpayer funds. In the next term, Ara looks forward to continuing the City’s mission of maintaining a fiscally sound financial picture while tackling various capital improvement projects, including major storm water management projects, the library project, and enhancement and protection of our existing park system.

The Caucus endorses Ray Buschmann for Ward 4 Alderman. Ray is proud of working to protect and preserve the quality of life so cherished in Lake Forest. This includes addressing some difficult development issues facing his Ward over the years. In his final term, Ray looks forward to continuing to maximize the vitality of the business district on Waukegan Road, recognizing the challenges that businesses owners have faced during the past year.

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Lake Forest has top-ranked schools with phenomenal teachers and high-performing, well-rounded students. In 2019, LFHS tied New Trier for the highest English SAT score in the state, and in 2020, the LFHS average composite ACT score was a record-high 28, well above the state average (24.7). 89% of LFHS students participate in at least one extracurricular activity and can select from 33 athletic opportunities and 50 clubs. High School Principal Chala Holland was recently named the Lake Region High School Principal of the Year. And for two years in a row, District 67 has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation.

The strength of our schools is also reflected in our AAA bond rating and taxes that are lower than our neighboring towns. And it is reflected in our housing market: the closing two quarters of 2020 were the strongest quarters for real estate in Lake Forest history, according to Berkshire Hathaway.

Through our schools, Lake Forest continues to be an inviting community—for new families, for the expats on international assignments, and for our kids and grandkids that we hope will want to raise their own families here.

Though our schools are strong, the role of the school board should always be to continue to push for the best educational experience for all students, to provide sound fiscal oversight, to support clear and transparent communication, and to listen to parents to address their concerns and work together to find solutions.

With this in mind, the Caucus began interviewing candidates for the District 67 and District 115 School Boards in the summer of 2020. “Over 30 candidates participated in the Caucus’ rigorous vetting process for these important four-year positions,” said Ward 1 Chair David Hunt.

The Caucus evaluates prospective board members based on their willingness to serve in a non-partisan manner, without personal agendas. In addition, the Caucus weighs a candidate’s objectivity and ability to work collaboratively and build consensus while driving results. Diversity of thought, background, and career are also important for a high-functioning board.

The impact of COVID-19 on our students cannot be ignored and was an important component of the vetting process. Each of the endorsed candidates will do everything he or she can to safely bring our students back into the classroom full time as quickly as possible.

For District 67 School Board, the Caucus Endorses (in order on ballot):

• Emily Bernahl. Emily and her husband have two children who attend District 67 schools. A graduate of Saint Joseph’s University, Emily is the owner of a business that provides land development services to residential and commercial clients—including administrative support, municipal research, and project management services—to aid architects, engineers, and developers with site development and municipal approvals and permits. Over the course of her career, she has consistently demonstrated leadership as a Development Manager with the successful construction of over 275 restaurant projects nationwide. Emily looks forward to ensuring all students are growing academically, socially, and emotionally to reach their fullest potential.
• Anne Geraghty Helms. Annie and her husband also have two children who attend District 67 schools. A Georgetown University Law Center graduate, Annie is an attorney at a global law firm where she leads the firm’s pro bono program in the United States. Annie’s practice often involves representing children and families, including those in juvenile justice and immigration proceedings, and advising parents as they navigate issues that impact their children, such as child support, domestic violence, guardianship, and housing. Annie hopes her legal background, especially in the area of special needs services for students, will serve the Board well.
• Carl Kirar. Like Emily and Annie, Carl and his wife also have two children in District 67. Carl is a veteran, holds multiple master’s degrees in engineering and business administration, and is a certified professional engineer. After a 21-year career as an engineer in the Navy, Carl now works for Lake County as Director of Facilities and Construction Services, directing a team of 56 professionals. Carl began serving on the District 67 Board in 2020 and looks forward to continuing to serve the Board by leveraging his knowledge of Lake County and his experience in administration.
• Alice LeVert. A 27-year resident of this City, Alice’s sons grew up in Lake Forest. She holds two bachelor’s degrees from Miami University (Oxford, OH) and an Executive MBA from The University of Notre Dame. She is a Senior Client Executive for Verizon in their Media, Entertainment, Technology, and Strategic Accounts group. While on the District 67 Board, Alice has worked on several committees and is the current Board Secretary and Legislative Liaison. Alice’s dedication to our schools is rooted in her passion for ensuring that our children have the best possible education and experience during their time in our District.

For District 115 School Board, the Caucus Endorses (in order on ballot):

• John Venson. John’s children attended Lake Forest schools and now he’s watching as his grandkids get ready to start. His career in podiatry has included personal clinical practice, running a multi-physician practice, teaching, and serving as the Dean of the California School of Podiatric Medicine. In 1996, he was selected as a scholar for the Harvard Macy Program for Physician Educators, and he has returned to the program multiple times as a faculty member. He is currently serving as Associate Director of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. John looks forward to giving back to the community of Lake Forest by serving on the District 115 School Board to ensure that the High School continues to provide an excellent education.
• David Burns. Dave and his wife have two children in District 115 and one in District 65 (Lake Bluff). Northwestern University awarded him bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering, as well as an MBA. He has had the opportunity to work in a variety of fields, including as a consultant to AbbVie and as a co-founder of the Lake Bluff Brewing Company. He has also taught at Northwestern and is an Assistant Scoutmaster. For five years, Dave was a board member of I-PLUS, a non-profit organization that serves veterans and disabled individuals, and he is currently serving his second term on the Lake Bluff Planning Commission Zoning Board of Appeals. Dave hopes his engineering and management skills will help him to separate the signal from the noise in analyzing the important issues that come before the Board.
• Sally Davis. Sally’s son recently graduated from Lake Forest High School and is now in college. She is a global brand attorney for SC Johnson, having earned her undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and her law degree from Boston University. Prior to joining SC Johnson, she clerked on the Federal Appeals Court and worked at two law firms, including SNR Denton. As a parent, Sally was involved in the Boy Scouts (Troop 46), LFHS Applause, and the Business Incubator program. She is currently Vice President of the District 115 Board and also chairs the Board’s Finance & Operations Committee. In her second term, Sally looks forward to supporting the hiring and retaining of outstanding teachers and administrators to ensure the High School has the right talent and leadership to serve the needs of our students and community.
• Marcus Schabacker. Marcus and his wife have two children in District 115. A board-certified anesthesiologist with a PhD in Anesthesia, Marcus’ career has spanned the globe, from Germany to Africa to the U.S. He has worked in emergency rooms and as a Crisis Medicine consultant to the South African government under Nelson Mandela. He is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of ECRI, a not-for-profit organization focusing on advancing evidenced-based, effective healthcare globally. Prior to this, he served as Corporate Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Baxter. Marcus is also an affiliate assistant professor at The Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago. In 2013, he became a U.S. citizen. Marcus looks forward to serving District 115 to ensure our students are prepared for their professional careers and to help them become caring and engaged citizens in whatever community or country they choose to live in.

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For more information about these candidates and the issues, please visit: www.studentsuccess2021.com.

The League of Women Voters of Lake Forest/Lake Bluff has invited all school board candidates to a Candidate Forum on Sunday, March 14 at 2:00 pm. You can register for the event here: www.lwv-lflb.org.

Voting Information. Request a vote-by-mail ballot by April 1. Early voting runs March 22 to April 5. Election day is April 6. See www.lakevoterpower.info for more information.